Revisiting Abu Ghraib: Journalists' sourcing and framing patterns

Abstract

Drawing on the literature related to indexing and sourcing, this studyanalyzes portrayals and sourcing patterns of New York Times coverageof Abu Ghraib and invocations of the events during Alberto Gonzales'nomination as U.S. Attorney General. Content analysis of all 760 articlespublished revealed that journalists overwhelmingly consulted official,though not necessarily partisan, sources during the pre-nomination,nomination, and hearing phases leading up to Gonzales' confirmation.Despite introducing the idea of "scandal" into coverage of Abu Ghraib,which suggests press independence, journalists consulted routinesources and increasingly relied on congressional sources over time. © 2011 AEJMC.